Frank Sprude - Attorney & Counselor

Illinois law dictates that divorcing couples should generally not spend money outside of usual family living expenses and usual expenditures in order to generate income, such as business expenses. In a traditional, litigated divorce, a party may petition the court to approve an extraordinary expenditure. However, unless there is a very good reason, the judge is unlikely to approve extraordinary expenses during a divorce.

In a Collaborative Divorce, efficient communications and a focus on interest-based negotiation facilitate couples arriving at agreements on important issues. The parties themselves discuss the pros and cons of financial alternatives and make decisions collaboratively. If a financial neutral is part of the Collaborative Team, he or she can "weigh in" on financial matters and force parties to face economic realities. Therefore, Collaborative Divorce allows the parties to make their own decisions based on their specific circumstances, rather than having a judge make decisions for them.